Indicator mechanism for cash-registers.



n. A. MARTIN.

JND'ICATOR MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPLICATION FlLED IAY 15' NH.

v 1,208,810. 7 .Patented-Dec.19,1916.

Qwwutoz A. MARTIN. INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, 1914.

Patented De0.-19,1916

53 62' 7 a suzzrsfsusn 2.

H. A. MART-IN. INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS.

APPUCATION FILED IAY l5. 1914.

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mmca'ron MECHANISM- ron casn-nnorsrnns,"

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed May 15, 1914. Serial No. 838,735. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAAKON A. MAn'rIN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county ofMontgomery andv State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Indicator Mechanism for Cash-Registers, of which Ideclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to accounting machines and the like, and moreparticularly to the indicating mechanism thereof. I

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved rotaryindicating mechanism so that the digits or characters to be displayedmay be made larger than those on the ordinary forms of rotary1nd1cators, without the necessity of making the drums or rollers largerin diameter.

.The principal objection to the ordlnary form of roller or drumindicators heretofore known is, that because of the limited surfaceavailable on the peripheries, unless the indicators are madeunreasonably large in diameter, the characters or digits for a bank ordenominational section of the machine are smaller than desired. Thisobjection has been overcome by providing an indicator comprising twomembers for each denomination, one member belng mounted within theother. Part of the digits of one denom nation are arranged on theperiphery of one member in the form of a drum. The other member whichbears the remaining digits has but a partial periphery or flange formedconcentric to saiddrum, which second member will be hereinafter referredto as the partial drum. By distributing the characters or digits on twomembers, instead of one, the indication is made clearer, and at the sametime, because one member, the drum, is within the other, more space 1nthe machine for the indicating mechanism 18 not required.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists incertain novel features of construction and combination of parts, theessential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and apreferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form part of thespecification.

Of said drawings: Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section takenthrough a machine,

having the present invention applied 'thereto. Fig. 2, is the detailfront view of the improved indicating mechanism, the dollars andtens-of-dollars indicating members being shown in cross section toexpose their construction and arrangement more clearly to view. Fig. 3is a detail side view of one of the partial indicating drums, bearingthe digits of higher value, and also shows an actuating segment gear forthe partial drum in the zero position. Fig. 4 is a detail in leftelevation of. one of the differential elements and some of itsconnections. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4and in addition to this shows the relationship of the controlling keysto said mechanism. Fig. 6 illustrates the positions assumed by thevarious parts of the key bank and differential mechanism when a key isdepressed and the machine operated far enough to disconnect thedifferential arm from its driving device.

Described in general terms, the invention struction, except that thedigits 0 to 6 incl:

sive, instead of the digits 0 to 9, are equidistantly arranged about itsperipheral flange or cylindrical surface. This drum, which will becalled herein the inside or complete drum for convenience, is positionedto rotate within another member having a peripheral flange or surfacejust sufiiciently long to bear the digits 7, 8 and 9. The preferredarrangement of the digits, as shown in the drawings, is for illustrativepurposes only, as it is evident that the series of digits may bedifferently distributed over the peripheries of the two members, if itis so desired. The actuators for the two members are rigidly connectedtogether and operated by a common differentialmechanism. The actuatorsare so constructed that the partial drum either remains in or is movedto its non-indicating osition when one of the digits on the insi e drumis to be displayed. When the partial drum is moved to display one of itsdigits, the inside drum is also rotated, but as the peripheral flange ofthe partial drum moves before the sight opening in the cabinet ofthe'machine, it conceals the digits on the inside drum.

In the accompanying drawingsthe invention is shown applied to a machinehaving key controlled differential mechanlsm sub- ',"stantially the sameas is fullyshown and described in a co-pending application No. 718,065filed in the United States Patent Office on August 31, 1912 by H. A.Martin,

This difierential mechanism has been shown in the present applicationas, an illustration of one form of the present applicant.

difierential mechanism with which the imroved indicating mechanlsm ofthe present invention may be used, and it is not 1n tended to limit thisinvention to use with this particular difierential mechanism. The abovementioned application may be re- 1 ferred to for a detailed descriptionof the difierential mechanism and the keyboard, shown-in the present aplication, it being considered necessary on y to describe these partsgenerally here.

Asusual there are nine amount keys 1 in a bank for each denominationrepresented in the machine. These keys are slidably mounted inways cutin a supporting frame 2 supported by two cross rods-3. The keysareprovided with pins 5, normally in position to engage the upper endsof slots 6,

adjacent the pins, and formed in a plate 7.

this arm 12 is a zero stop pawl 14, pro

vided with a projection 15, which normally projects into the path of ashoulder 16 on a pawl 17 formed with a hook 18. The raising of the plate7 upon depression of a key,

through the link 11 and arm 12, rocks the pawl 14 to move its projection15 out of the path of movement of the shoulder 16.

Detent means for locking the keys in de pressed positions are not shownin the drawings, as any one of the well known forms of mechanismsperforming this function may be employed. It is also to be under stoodthat the usual springs, coiled about the shanks of the keys, but notshown in the drawings, are employed to restore operated keys toundepressed positions when released.

The pawl 17 is pivotally mounted at v19 on a differentially movable arm20 loosely mounted upon a stud 21 projecting laterally from the plate 4.The forward hooked portion 18 of the pawl 17 is normally held in frontof a roller 22 by a spring 23, connect ing the pawl and the arm 20. Theroller 22 projects from a link 24 and normally .24, at its rear end, ispivoted by a pin 26 rests a recess 25 formed in the forward end 'of-thedifi'erentially movable arm 20 and. is normally prevented from movingout of said'recess by the hook 18. The link to an-arm 27 loosely mountedon the stud 21. Each of these arms 27, there being one arm for each ofthe arms 20, is pivotally connected at 28 to a corresponding link 29,through the lower end of which passes a tie bar 30. The tie bar 30 issupported by the forward ends of two arms 31 mounted to rock on a crossrod 32. Each arm 31 carries a roller 33, which projects into a groove 34formed in a corresponding disk 35, rig- 5 idly mounted on a shaft 36,there being two of said disks 351 The shaft 36 is given one completerotation at each operation of; the machine 1n the direction of the arrowby means of a crank handle or other suitable .3 3 means, not shown inthe drawings. The cam grooves 34 in the two disks 35 are so designedthat during one complete rotation of the shaft 36 the arms 31 and,through the links 29, thearms 27 will be oscillated first in a counterclockwise direction, and then in a clockwise direction to normalposition. This movement will be transmitted to the arm 20 through themedium of the link 24 so long as the hook -18.remains in the path ofroller 22 thereby maintaining a rigid connection between arms 20 and 27.When the arm 20 is so moved, the shoulder-16 of the pawl 17 clearstheends of the undepressed keys in its bank, but engages and is 1;)arrested by the end of any key which has been depressed. This engagementmoves the pawl 17 away from in front of the roller 22, thus freeing thisroller for movement away from the stud 21, and permitting the 1. 5roller to ride outward into the correspondng one of grooves 38 properlypositioned 1n the key frame for this purpose. The positions of the partsat this point in the operation are as shown in Fig. 6. In this mannor,the differentially movable arm 20 is arrested by the key depressed,furtblmove ment of the arm 27 causing only the idle movement of the link24 and arm 27 as a toggle without further driving the arm 20. During thereturn movement of the arm 27, the roller 22 is again moved into thenotch 25 in the arm 20, and the latter is returned to normal positionwith the arm'27. It can be seen that the zero stop pawl 14 is providedso that, if no amount key is depressed, the arm will be arrested in itszero position, the roller 22 being forced into the zero groove 39. 1

A link 41 is pivoted at 42 to an arm 43, which is rigidly secured to theside of the differentially movable arm 20. The rear end of the link 41is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 45 which, at itsopposite end, is pivoted to a rearwardly ex- 1 gear 47 loosely mountedon across rod 48.

' The link141fis curvediintermediate its end to fit aroundlth'e stud 21.When the indicating mechanism of a denomination is to be moved from alower to a higher indicatingposition, the link 41 engages a collar 411on the stud 21 and moves the segment gear 47 rearward for this purpose.When the indicating mechanism, however, isto be moved from a higher to alower indicating position, movement of the arm 20 does not carry thelink 41 against the collar 411. A roller 50 on the link 29 is providedfor this purpose, as the roller during the-raising of the link 29 movesthe link 41 against the collar-411, and thereby moves the .segment gear47 forward to move the indicating mechanism to the desired lowerindicating position. -The roller 50, of course, engages the link 41 atevery operation and remains in engagement until after the indi-' catordrums are alined in their set posi tions as will be described later.

The indicating mechanism for each denomination comprises the two members51 and 52. The drum 51 is ofthe ordinary construction, and-has digits 0to 6 inclusive, arranged equi-distantly .on its peripheral flangedportion 53 which forms a complete cylindrical surface. The partial oroutside drum 521m a peripheralflanged portion 54 which is just longenough to bear the three digits 7 8 and 9, which are preferably of" thesame size as the digits on the complete or inside, drum 51. Theperipheral portions of the two members are concentric, the peripheralportion 54 of the partial drum being constructed to project over and inthe opposite direction from that of the drum 51. It can, therefore,.beseen that the drum 5.1.

isJnounted to rotate within the partial drum 52, the digits on onesection or the other being viewed through the sight opening 56 (Fig. 1)in the front of the cabinet of the machine, and the sight opening 57 ina plate 58 extending across the front of .the indicators fastened to thecabinet of the machine and so constructed that only one digit ata timecan 'be-viewed.

, As best shown in Fig.1, the drum 51 is rigidly connected by pins 59 toa pinion 60 loosely mounted, on a cross rod 61 extending I across themachine. The partial or outside drum 52 is connected in a like manner toa pinion 62, Fig. 2, also loosely mounted on the cross rod 61. Thepinions 60 and 62 respectively have oppositely extending hubs 63 and 64,and these hubs, together with the small spacing sleeves 65 insertedbetween the pinions 60 and the pinions 62for the partial drums of nexthigher order serve to prevent movement. of the drums longitudinally ofthe cross rod 61. The actuating segment gear 47 meshes with the 'pinion60, which segment' gears are rigidly connected together by a sleeveencircling the cross rod 48. One tooth of the pinion 62 is cutaway at 68to form a curved locking surface, which is A seg-' adapted to coiiperatewith the curved edge or periphery 69 of the segment gear 66, and therebylock the partial drum against rotation, except when the segment 66 ismoved so that its teeth 67 mesh with the complete teeth of thepinion-62. The gear ratio between the segments and gears is such thatseven steps of movement of segments 47 will effect one complete rotationof pinions 66 and drums 51.

From the above description it can be seen that, when the seven rearmostteeth of the actuating segment gear 47 are giving the inside drum 51 onecomplete rotation the circular edge 69 of the segment gear 66 will be insliding engagement with the locking portion 68 of the pinion 62 to lockthe partial or outside drum against movement. During this movement ofthe inside drum,- without movement of the outside drum, the digits 1, onthe former can be seen through the sight openings 56 and 57. After thesegment gears 47 and 66 have been moved forward sufficiently tocarry theteeth 67 of the segment gear 66 into engagement with the teeth of thepinion 62 both members of the indicator are rotated together, but as theperipheral flanged portion 54 of the par-- tial drum is moved before thesightopening to display the desired digit thereon, the

complete or inside drum is concealed from view. v

In order that the teeth 67 of the segment gear 66 will engage with theteeth of the pinion 62 and not idly pass under the locking surface 68 ofthe cut away tooth when this segment gear is moved rearward, it isnecessary slightlyvto move the partial drum as the inside drum movespast its 6 indi cating position when a higher digit is to be indicated.To accomplish this purpose the free end of an arm'72 which is fastenedto the inside drum by one of the pins 59, as

' best shown in Fig. 2, projects into the path of movement of the freeend of an arm 71 which is fastenedto the partial drum in a like manner.During rotation of the complete drum in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1)

.past its 6 indicating position the arm'72 engages the arm 71 just asthe peripheral surface f69,-of the segment gear 66 slides out ofengagement with the locking surface 68 of the pinion 62 so that thepartial drum and pinion 62 are slightly turned by the locking surface 68of the pinion 62 is again in locking engagement with the cooperatingperiphery 69 of the segment gear 66.

With the above described construction it can be seen that the principalobject of the invention is accomplished by providing two drums 51 and52, instead of a single drum, for one denomination series of digits. Tnthis way the digits can be made much larger, and at the same time, asthe diameter of the outside drum 52 is preferably not any larger thanthat of the single drums heretofore employed, the indicating mechanismofthe present invention does not require more space in the machine.

For the purpose of alining the indicator drums in their properindicating positions alining pawls 75, one for each drum, are provided.notches 7 61 in their lower ends, the notches being designed to engageover the teeth on the pinions 60 and 62. The pawls are rigidly mountedon a shaft 76, which also has rigidly mounted thereon a rearwardlyprojecting arm 77. A pitman 78 is pivotally connected to the outer endof the arm 77, and at its lower end is. bifurcated to straddle a shaft.79. A roller 80 on the pitman projects into a cam groove 81 formed inthe face. of a disk 82, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 79. T heshaft 79 is given one complete rotation at each operation of themachine, and the shaft receives its rotation from the shaft 36 throughthemedium of the gear 83, fast on the shaft/T9, the intermediate gear85, and the gear 86 fast on the shaft 36, the pitch lines of these gearsbeing indicated by dot-dash lines in Fig. l. The form of drivingmechanism and connections for the shafts 79 and 36 form no part of thepresent invention, and are, therefore, not shown in detail in thedrawings. It is merely necessary to be understood that each of saidshafts receives one complete rotation at each operation of the machine.The cam groove 81 is so designed that at the very beginning of theoperation of the machine, the shaft 76 is rocked to raise the pawls outof engagement with the pini'ons 60 and 62. After the, arms 27 havecompleted their upward movement, and before. they begin their returnmovement to normal position, the cam 82 rocks the pawls 75 back toalining position. This is efiected just at the time that the roller 50is holding the curved portion of the link 41 against collar 411.

From the above description, it will be obvious that the presentinvention is adapted These pawls 75 have ll-shapedi ,aos,s to

for use in a printing mechanism and the like. With such a constructionof the printing wheels larger characters could be printed without thenecessity of making the printing wheels or drums any larger in diameterthan the printing wheels or drums of an ordinary construction. It,therefore, is not intended to limit the use of the present invention toindicating mechanism as itis equally as well adapted for use in aprinting mechanism and the like.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described, is admirablyadapted to .fulfil the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to conline the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible ofembodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is:

1. Tn a machine of the class described, the combination with twoaccounting elements each bearing a part of the digits or characters of aseries and so constructed that any digit or character on either elementmay be brought to a common efi'ective point, and differential mechanismfor operating the same.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anaccounting element bearing part of a series of digits or characters, ofa second accounting element bearing the remaining digits or charactersof the series, and differential mechanism for operating said accountingelements so that but one digit or character of the series is broughtinto effective position.

3. In a machine of the class described, the

differential mechanism common to the two indicator elements foroperating the same.

5. In a machlne of the class descrlbed, the

combination with two rotary indicator elements, one positioned withinthe other and each bearing a number of digitsor characters of a series,and differential mechanism for rotating the indicator elements to bringany digit or character on either indicator element to a common readingpoint.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a partialindicator drum brought to a common reading point, and

bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of a second indicatordrum bearing the remaining digits or charactersof the series andpositioned within the partial drum, two actuators, one for each drum,and differen- -tial mechanism common to both actuators not actuated whenthe digits or characters pinion connected to the-partial drum havingon'the second drum are being displayed.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a partialindicator drum bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of asecond indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or characters of theseries and positioned to rotate within the partial drum, and actuatingmechanism for the indicator drums so constructedthat the partial drum isnot actuated :when the second drum is displaying its digits orcharacters.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a partialindicator drum bearing part of a series ofdigits or charac-v ters, of asecond drum bearing the remaining digits or characters of the series,and actuating mechanism for the indicator drums constructed to lock thepartial indicator drum against movement when the second drum isdisplaying its-digits or characters.

10. In a machine of the class described,

' the combination with a partial indicator the series and positioned tomove within the drum bearing part of a series of digits or characters,of a second indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or characters ofpartial drum, and actuating mechanism for the indicator drums andconstructed to lock the partial indicator drum against movement whenitsdigits or characters are not passing or in indicating position.

11. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a partial indicator drum bearing part of a seriesof digits'or characters, of a second indicator drum hearing theremaining digits or characters of the series, pinions rigidly connectedto said drums the pinion connected with the partial drum having alocking surface, and an actuating segment gear for each pinion, the actuating segment gear for the partial drum.

having a locking surface for cooperating with the locking surface of thecorresponding pinion when the partial indicator drum is out ofindicating position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a partialindicator drum bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of asecond indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or characters of theseries, pinions rigidly connected to said drums the pinion connectedwith the partial drum having a locking surface, andrigidlyconnectedactuating segment gears, one for each pinion, theactuating segment gear for the partial drum having locking surface forcooperating with the locking surface of its pinion when thepartial drumis out of indicating position. 7

13. In a machine of the' class described, the combination with a partialindicator drum, bearing part of a series of digits or characters, of asecond indicator drum bearing the remaining digits or characters,pinions rigidly connected to said' drums, the

pinion.

.14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with adifferentially adj ustable element, of a plurality of accountingelements each bearing characters representing a part of the positions ofsaid adjustable element and movable to bring any desired character onany accounting element to a common position where the character will beeffective, and operating connections between the accounting elements andthe differential element.

15. In a machine of the, class described,

the combination with a bank of keys, of a v plurality of accountingelements each bearing characters representing a part of the keys andmovable to bring any desired character on any{ element to acommon aposition wherethe character will be effective, and

devices connected to the accountingelements and controlled by. the keysfor differentially operating the: elements.

16, In a machine of the combination with a pluralitysof rota- 1 readingoint common to the elements, and differential mechanism common to mentsfor operating the elements. f.

the class describedf. table indicator elements each bearing apart ;1 20i of the digits of a denominational order and movable to bringzany.desired digit" to "a,

the e1e- J 3" 17. In a machine of the class described,-- 1 thecombination With two indicator elecommon to the elements, of indicatoractuating devices common-to the elements and v devices.

.19. In a machine of the class described,

. difi'erentially movabledirectly and in either direction from oneposition to another, and

manipulative devices for controlling the direction and extent ofmovement of the actuating devices.

"18. In a machine of the class described, the combination With twoindicator elements each bearin a part of the digits of a denominationaorder and adjustable to bring any digit on eitherelement to a positioncommon to the elements, of indicator actuating devices common to theelements and differentially movable directly and in either directionfrom one position to another, and a series'of keys for controlling thedirection and extent of movement of the actuating the combination With aplurality of indicator elements each bearing a part of the digits of adenominational order and adjustable to bring any digit on either element toa position common to the elements, otindicator actuating segmentscommon to the elements and movable as a unit directlyand in eitherdirection from one position to another, and manipulative devices forcontrolling the direction and extent of movement of the segments. 20. ina machine of the class described, the combination With a plurality ofindicator elements each having a part of the digits ofa denominationalorder and'operable to dlsplay any desired character onany tandem elementof indicator actuating segments common to the elements and movableas aunit directly and in either direction from one position to another, anda series of keys for controlling the direction and extent of movement ofthe segments.

21. In a'machine of the class described, the combination With aplurality of rotatable indicator elements, of an actuating segment foreach element, the segments being rigid together and arranged to starttheir elements at 'difie'r'en't points in the unitary movement of thesegments, a differentially adjustable member,

a beam.

pivotally connected at one end to the actuating segments and at theother end to, the

difierentially adjustable member, and means whereby a ointintermediatethe ends of the beam wlllf'begiven a constant position at eachoperation'thereby eflecting difierential movement in either direction ofthe dicator actuating segments.

22. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof nested rotary indicators each bearing a part of the digits for adenominational order, of means for operating the indicators to displayany desired digit thereon at a point common'to allot thedigitsandmanipulative devices controlling said operating means.

In testimony whereof i afix my signature in the presence oftwoWitnesses.

. nannies n'nnrn Witnesses: I

- F. E. Hairrnroir, J, B. Rron'nrrs.

